What is patriarchy?

Patriarchy is the systematic domination of women by men, and has been a cornerstone feature of most societies for the last 10,000 years. Patriarchy is evident in a society that promotes the purchase and sale of women, that considers women to be mere property of their fathers or husbands, that considers the "proper" role for women to be domestic servitude, that trains and enforces the submission of women to male control, and that objectifies women as toys or tools that are only "good" if they are serving male interests or needs. Patriarchy dehumanizes women, and robs men of their humanity in the process. Patriarchy is the reason why (as one small example) there is an epidemic of rape that is largely ignored or accepted as part of the backdrop of life as usual.

What is Stop Patriarchy?

Because there is patriarchy, there is a need for Stop Patriarchy: a movement for women's liberation. It is a mass initiative to END patriarchy - Stop Patriarchy is determined to wage a massive political fight to achieve women's liberation. This movement was initiated by Sunsara Taylor, who is a writer for Revolution newspaper.

If you are outraged at the cold truth that there is nowhere in the world where it is safe to be a woman, you should be Stop Patriarchy too.

There are Stop Patriarchy chapters in certain cities, and there are groups and individuals that support certain Stop Patriarchy projects but not others. Stop Patriarchy is a diverse group, politically and otherwise. We engage in open and principled debate over differences in view, and we not only welcome that, but it is an essential part of any movement for liberation.

We believe it is very important for EVERYONE who sees a need to fight the systematic oppression of women, to be able to give expression to that in a way that contributes to ENDING it once and for all. We aim for nothing less. We have different ideas of what that may look like, but we do agree that mass resistance is an essential aspect. Everything we do, try, say, and lead is aiming to change that situation.

Stop Patriarchy is not proprietary. We would very much like to see the slogans, stories, and videos we put out into the world and the actions we take spread, because of the fact that still to this day (around the world, including in the U.S. and other countries where women have "formal equality" such as the right to vote) women are not treated as full human beings, and that is systematically perpetuated and enforced. It will take the participation of thousands of people, influencing the way that millions think about women, to puncture the atmosphere of acceptance of patriarchy, and have a fighting chance at ending it once and for all.

Stop Patriarchy is an urgently needed movement for liberation, and not an official organization with an official membership (which means you could start a chapter today wherever you are). Stop Patriarchy includes atheists and religious people, straight and gay, trans, men, women, anyone of any background or profession, anyone that wants to join the historically necessary fight for the emancipation of women, in ways big or small.

Who is stop patriarchy?

Stop Patriarchy is a group for everyone who wants to FIGHT to STOP the enslavement of women. Not politely lobby against it. Not grumble at the TV. Not simply post things on Twitter. And definitely not sit around waiting for those in power to “come to their senses.” It is also a movement for everyone who can be won to see the need for this – we are fighting aggressively to change minds and to grow and deepen and escalate until we succeed in changing everything. JOIN US!